NEWPORT, Cardiff and Bristol could become the newest economic ‘powerhouse’ in Britain, a report has claimed.

According to the report published today, Friday, by Great Western Cities, forging closer links between businesses, councils and universities in the three cities while improving transport links in the region would boost their influence on the national and international stage.

The study, written by Metro Dynamics and launched at an event today, says nearly 2,500 people already commute between Newport, Cardiff and Bristol daily – twice as many than in the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds.

And it says working to cut journey times between the three cities by just 20 minutes could benefit the region to the tune of more than £1 billion over the next 60 years.

The report also claims the way in which the three cities centre around the Severn Estuary means they would be able to work together on major renewable energy projects that would bring massive investment into the area and have major economic benefits for the UK as a whole.

Newport City Council leader Cllr Bob Bright welcomed the report and said he was fully in favour of the Great Western Cities project, which was first mooted last spring.

“It is no coincidence that Newport’s presence on the UK stage has risen since the inception of the Great Western Cities collaboration,” he said.

“We truly have strength in depth with these three ambitious and unique city partners working closely together for a combined benefit.

“Today’s report further strengthens the case that we already fully support.”

The project will run alongside the Welsh Government’s £1.28 billion Cardiff City Region scheme, which will see 10 local authorities in south Wales, including Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Torfaen, join together to improve the region’s economy.

The study also claims, if the economic output of the three cities was increased to match that of London, its economy would rocket by more than 30 billion a year.

Managing director of Metro Dynamics Ben Lucas said the case for setting up a Great Western Powerhouse was “a strong one”.

“As with the Northern Powerhouse, better connectivity will reap big rewards in creating a larger, more productive labour market across the Great Western Cities,” he said.

“This is Britain's western opportunity – it's up to the three cities, business and government to seize it.”

Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, also welcomed the report.

“This welcome report confirms what we suspected when we formed this extremely promising alliance with Cardiff and Newport – that we are stronger working together and between us there are many areas which are ripe for collaboration which can benefit all sides,” he said.

Cardiff City Council leader Phil Bale said the project was “a big opportunity for the British economy”.